I’m sure it’s happened to you: Fruit flies float around the kitchen, just slow enough to kill but just numerous enough to exhaust you. Isn’t there a fast and easy to get rid of these tiny terrors?

Yes, there is. And for those of you wondering how to get rid of fruit flies in the house, I can’t recommend this enough. The approach that I outline below if fast, and it uses only things that you can find in your kitchen. Check it out, and start trapping (and killing) those aggravating fruit flies today.

5 Steps to Getting Rid of Fruit Flies

Here’s the approach I use. Basically, it’s all about setting a trap. Fruit flies are in your house and kitchen for a reason — they want something. So set a trap that includes exactly what they want. Here’s how to do it in 5 easy steps.

1. Get a Bowl

Yes, you need a bowl. You can use one that you already have. Or, if you don’t like the thought of flies dying in a bowl you’ll soon eat cereal out of, a plastic or paper bowl will do just fine.

2. Add the Bait

What do fruit flies love? Well, to put it in technical terms (as Orkin does here), fruit flies love “yeast resulting from the initial decomposition of plant materials.” But what does that mean?

Let’s start with fruits and vegetables. Fruit flies love fruits and vegetables when they start to over-ripen — that is, as they start to decompose. They also love anything sugary, which could mean sugar itself over even fermented sugars like those found in alcoholic beverages.

So, what you need to do is find some of this stuff and put it in your bowl. Create a messy concoction, because the fruit flies aren’t going to discriminate. Toss in old fruits and vegetables, try white wine or white wine vinegar (it’s good to have about an inch of sugary liquid at the bottom), sprinkle with sugar, drizzle with honey, etc.

Go big on the bait, and get ready to snag some fruit flies. Just make sure the bait rests beneath the rim of the bowl.

3. Cover and Poke

Now that you’ve baited your bowl, it’s time to cover it. Use Saran Wrap or something similar, and make sure to get the plastic wrap as tightly drawn across the top of the bowl as possible.

Once the plastic is tight, get a plastic fork and poke tiny holes across the surface of the plastic wrap. If you don’t have a plastic fork, use a toothpick.

These holes work like magic if they are small enough: Fruit flies can find their way in, but they can’t find their way out.

4. Wait

Now you get to sit back and put up your feet. It’s time to just wait for the flies to come and get stuck in your bowl. It’s not going to happen in an hour or even over the course of a day.

When I’ve done it in the past, I’ve left it out overnight and then through the next day while I’m gone at work. Once back at home, I’ve found dozens of fruit flies stuck inside — many more than I had even noticed floating around.

5. Bury the Bodies

One reason why it’s good to use a plastic or paper bowl: Disposal is far easier. The concoction you created is a mess, and the fruit flies have only made it messier.

I would recommend taking the bowl outside to a big trash can and pouring out your bowl — if you want to keep your bowl, that is. If your bowl is disposable, toss the whole thing out and be done with it.

Why You Need to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

I know none of you are going to tolerate fruit flies in the house. You wouldn’t be reading this post if that were the case.

But you should know that, while they don’t bite, fruit flies aren’t a good thing. They are dirty, and they can carry diseases, viruses and bacteria. They tend to gather in your kitchen, but you certainly don’t want them all over your food — which is exactly what they’re going for.

Prevent fruit flies from arriving at your home by getting rid of overly ripe fruit and vegetables, taking out the trash regularly (including the recycling, where soda cans and wine bottles attract fruit flies), and always run your garbage disposal after rinsing dishes.

Use the process above to get rid of fruit flies, and follow the tips in this section to make sure they never come back again.

Final Thoughts on Getting Rid of Fruit Flies

I love spending time in the kitchen. I’m just one of those people who enjoys the process of cooking and baking just as much as the eating.

But fruit flies just drain the enjoyment out of time spent in the kitchen. If the process above sounds like a lot of work, trust me when I tell you it isn’t. And also trust me when I tell you this: It works.

Don’t let fruit flies float around and ruin one of the best spaces in your home. Take care of them, and focus on living life the way you want to.

Have you used a different approach to getting rid of fruit flies? If so, let us know in the comments section below — or, you can always use our contact form to get in touch with us directly.

About Review Bounce

The world is swimming in products, some of them stellar, some of them so-so, and some of them SO not worth the money. How do you get the best of the best, each time you pull out your credit card? You go to Review Bounce, where our team recommends the perfect choice — so you can bounce the rest. Whenever you're shopping for something specific (or just browsing for deals), save time and save money when you choose Review Bounce.

Explore Review Bounce

Review Bounce is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.